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Theme: Policies and Institutions that Work

Project name: Policy and Livelihoods: Understanding the link between policy and practice in the Andean Highlands

Dates / Duration: 1999-2003, completed

Introduction:

In the Andean region, emerging local-level peasant ‘economic’ organisations (‘Organizaciones económicas campesinas, or OECs/OECAs), with a specific sectoral or technology focus play a role in supporting the livelihoods of peasant producers. Little is known of strengths and weaknesses of these organisations. This project coordinated by Diego Muñoz in partnership with the PIEB Foundation seeks to discover whether the livelihoods of local people, particularly poorer households, can be better supported by focusing on these economic institutions. It analyses whether current policies support these organisations, and identifies practical options to effectively strengthen support for peasant livelihoods.

Objectives:

Through case studies, the objectives are:

• To better understand the role of peasant economic organisations as part of production systems in Bolivia, and their relation with public policy
• To identify the effects that this type of organisation have and could have on peasant families and communities
• To identify alternative public policies and processes that could support and strengthen OECs
• To identify public policies and processes which can obstruct and limit the role of OECs

Key findings/ progress to date:

• Most OECs arose as result of development projects (government or NGO) and small farmer response
• OECs are versatile but weak; and are currently oversold as a panacea for rural development
• As partners in liberalised market, OECs require increased management skills (organisational and financial management, business management, strategic planning) without creating dependence; removal of distortions in domestic markets, appropriate policies and infrastructure for small farmers to enter markets -international, middle class, low income, and a receptive private sector

Key Publications:

These publications are also available from www.pieb.org.

Relación entre agricultura campesina y las políticas públicas:

Boletin No. 1. Relaciones entre las organizaciones
económicas campesinas y las políticas públicas
View PDF

Boletin No. 2.
View PDF

Bulletin No. 3 Small Farmers Economic Organisations in the Andean region and Globalisation--Project conclusions and recommendations
Read more

Organizaciones económicas y políticas públicas: un estudio comparativo: Un estudio comparativo
Diego Muñoz E., Bonifacio Cruz A., and Maricruz Canedo, U.
Read More

Workshop Report: the small farming sector’s productive role in an age of liberalisation
View PDF

Also available:

Políticas Públicas y Agricultura Campesina: Encuentros e Desencuentros
(Bolivia case study, Spanish)
Diego Munoz Elsner, 2000
Read More

Public Policies and Processes in the Bolivian Andes
(Extended summary of Políticas Públicas y Agricultura Campesina, English)
Diego Muñoz Elsner
Read More

Links to partners:

Programa de Investigación Estratégica en Bolivia
www.pieb.org

Producer organisation resource

Project supported by:

Department for International Development UK (DFID)
www.dfid.gov.uk

Contact:

Diego Muñoz Elsner
Dir: Muñoz Cornejo No 2818, Sopocachi
La Paz – Bolivia
E-mail - ogeid@acelerate.com

Bill Vorley, IIED
bill.vorley@iied.org

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